Tray insert with retained food service items

ABSTRACT

A tray and tray insert with holes designed to prevent plates, bowls, or drinking cups from sliding or falling off the tray. The holes are cut or formed into the tray, allowing for the bowls and plates to sit in and locked in place by the dishwasher safe tray insert, preventing sliding and knock overs of the plates or bowls.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/069,622, filed Oct. 28, 2014, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/999,230, filed Oct. 28, 2015, the contents ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food service trays and, moreparticularly, to food service trays for restraining movement of bowls orplates carried on a food service tray.

Years of observing small children spill the contents of their bowl orplate onto the dining table, their high chair tray, or worse yet, ontothe floor led to the invention of this tray and tray insert.

There are numerous food service trays in the art that have raisedplastic molds or material that only prevent items, such as bowls andplates, from sliding. None of these trays prevent a bowl or plate frombeing pushed or knocked off the tray.

As can be seen, there is a need for a food service tray that preventsbowls and plates from being knocked off the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a food service tray, comprises atray base having a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in a surfaceof the tray base, the plurality of spaced apart holes dimensioned toreceive at least a lower portion of a food serving item therein. Thefood service tray may also include a tray cover having a plurality ofspaced apart openings defined in a surface thereof, the openingsdisposed to be coaxially aligned with the spaced apart holes of the traybase.

In some embodiments, a diameter of the tray cover openings is smallerthan a diameter of a corresponding hole of the tray base. The tray coveropenings may further comprise a raised annular rim defined around thecircumference of the tray cover opening. The raised annular rim may alsodefine a ledge on a lower surface of the rim that is dimensioned to oneor more of a width or a thickness of a lip surrounding the food servingitem.

In other aspects of the invention the tray cover may lock to the traybase, via a slot defined in a peripheral edge of the tray base; and acover grip tab defined in a peripheral edge of the tray cover, whereinthe slot is adapted to receive a locking tab portion of the cover griptab to secure the tray cover to the tray base. In some embodiments, thelip of the food serving item is retained in the hole of the tray base bythe ledge of the tray cover, when the tray cover is secured to the traybase.

In aspects of the invention, the food service item comprises a plate, abowl, or a cup.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a food service tray, is claimedcomprising: a tray base having a plurality of spaced apart holes definedin a surface of the tray base; and a tray cover having a plurality ofspaced apart openings defined in a surface of the tray cover anddisposed to correspond with the plurality of spaced apart holes. Thefood service tray may also have a food service item, where at least alower portion of the food service item is received within one of theplurality of spaced apart holes. The food service may have a lip definedaround a peripheral edge of the food service item that is supported byan upper surface of the tray base. The lip of the food service item maybe received within a ledge defined in a lower surface of the tray coveraround a periphery of at least one the plurality of spaced apartopenings.

In another aspect of the invention, the food service tray may have aslot defined in a peripheral surface of the tray base; and a locking tabextending from the tray cover. The locking tab is adapted to be receivedin the slot to secure the tray cover to the tray base. In otherembodiments of the invention, the food service item is restrained withinthe tray base by a snap-fit cooperative engagement of the tray coverwith the tray base.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an embodiment of the invention, shown inuse;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an embodiment of the invention, taken alongline 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail section view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the invention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a detail section view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a foodserving item; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a tray receptaclefor the food serving item of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a food servingtray with holes cut or formed into the tray to allow food serving items,such as a bowl, a plate, or a drinking cup to be received in andpreferably locked in place with a dishwasher safe tray insert; thus,preventing sliding and knock overs.

As seen in reference to FIG. 1 a tray 10, or tray base, is shown in arepresentative use with a high chair 40. The tray 10 may also be used asa TV tray or breakfast-in-bed tray, or any of a wide variety of foodservice tray uses. When used as a detachable standalone tray 10 the traymay suction cup legs to stick to a dining table surface for stability.

In reference to FIG. 3, the tray 10 may comprise a plurality of openingsdefined in a surface of the tray 10. The plurality of openings areadapted to receive a food serving item, and may include a tray cupholder 18 that is dimensioned to receive the body of a cup (not shown),a tray plate hole 14 adapted to receive a lower portion of a plate 32,and a tray bowl hole 16 adapted to receive a lower portion of a bowl 36.The tray 10 may be configured with a combination of plate holes 14 orbowl holes 16, in various spaced relations, depending on the desiredfeeding requirements for a particular meal, such as an entrée, as salad,a soup, or a side dish.

The plate 32 may have an annular plate lip 34 defined around acircumference of the plate 32. Similarly, the bowl 36 may also have anannular bowl lip 38 defined around a circumference of the bowl 36. Sincea bottom portion of the bowl 36 and plate 32 may be suspended beneaththe tray 10, allowance should be made so that children legs or anysurface area will have adequate clearance.

The tray 10 may also include a tray cover 12. Like the tray 10, the traycover 12 is defined with a plurality of openings in a surface of thetray cover 12. The tray cover 12 may have a cover bowl hole 22, a coverplate hole 20, and a cover cup holder 24. As shown in reference to FIG.2, the openings in the tray cover 12 at are coaxially aligned with therespective tray openings when the tray cover 12 is operatively attachedto the tray 10.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the tray 10 has a pluralityof slots 30, or openings defined in spaced apart relation about alateral edge surface of the tray 10. The slots 30 are adapted to receivea locking tab 28 end of cover grip tab 26 defined at positionscorresponding to those of slots 30 about a peripheral edge of the trayinsert 12. The cover grip tabs 26 may be lifted so as to release thetabs from the slots 30 in order to remove the tray insert 12 from thetray 10. The slots 30 and locking tab 28, being representative of anysuitable snap-fit cooperative engagement of the tray cover 12 to thetray base 10.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 4-7, the bowl 36 and plate 32 may becaptively retained within the tray 10 when the tray insert 12 isattached to the tray 10. The plate lip 34 extends outwardly such that alower surface of the plate lip 34 rests upon the top surface of the tray10 around the circumference of the plate 32. In like manner, the bowllip 38 rests upon the top surface of the tray 10 around thecircumference of the bowl 36.

As best seen in reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, the cover plate hole 20 andcover bowl hole 16 have a raised annular rim defined around acircumference of the respective holes 20, 16. As shown, the diameter ofthe cover plate hole 20 and the cover bowl hole 16 will be slightlysmaller than that of their corresponding holes in the tray 10. Theraised annular edge is dimensioned so as to receive the plate lip 34 andthe bowl lip 38 when the cover 12 is secured to the tray 10, so as tolock and retain the bowl 36 and plate 32 in their respective positionsin the tray 10. Preferably, the raised annular rim defines a ledge on alower surface of the rim that is dimensioned to one or more of a widthor a thickness of the lip surrounding the food serving item.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternative embodiment of afood serving item 136, such as a bowl is shown. The food serving item136 has an annular rim 138 around the periphery of the article. The foodserving item 136 has a plurality of retaining tabs 140 extendingoutwardly from a lateral aspect of the food serving item 136 beneath theannular rim 138. The plurality of openings 116 may also be configuredwith an annular ring 114 extending around the periphery of the opening116. A plurality of retaining tab receivers 118 are defined to extendthrough the surface of the tray 10 and are adapted to receive theretaining tabs 140 of the food serving item 136.

Once the retaining tabs are received in the tab receivers 118, the foodserving item 136 may be rotated to lock the tabs in the tray 10. Theannular ring 114 may be elevated from the top surface of the tray 10such that a lower surface of the annular rim 138 is supported thereonand the tabs 140 will be in a close locking engagement with the lowersurface of the tray 10 adjacent to the slots 118. The tab 140 may havean inclined surface along the top end of the tab 140 to facilitatesecure engagement of the tab 140 with the lower surface of the tray 10as the food serving item 136 is rotated. The cooperating retaining tabs140 and retaining tab receivers 118 may be utilized alone or incombination with the tray cover 12 to secure food serving items 136within the tray 10.

As described, the tray 10 has holes 14, 16, and 18 designed to insertbowls 36 and plates 32, preventing them from sliding or being pushedoff. Unlike other trays that have raised plastic molds or material thatonly prevent items from sliding, the tray's built-in holes 14, 16, and18 prevent movement of the bowl 36 and plate 32. The holes 14, 16, and18 formed into the tray 10 may allow standard bowls 36 and plates 32 tobe placed in and locked in place with the tray insert 12. The trayinsert 12 may also include removable lids to cover the holes 14, 16, and18 to contain food items in the bowl 36 and plate 32 during transport ofthe tray. The tray 10 and tray insert 12 may be formed of any suitablethe dishwasher safe material.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A food service tray, comprising: a tray basehaving a plurality of spaced apart holes defined in a surface of thetray base, the plurality of spaced apart holes dimensioned to receive atleast a lower portion of a food serving item therein.
 2. The foodservice tray of claim 1, further comprising: a tray cover having aplurality of spaced apart openings defined in a surface of the traycover, the openings disposed to be coaxially aligned with the spacedapart holes of the tray base.
 3. The food service tray of claim 2,wherein a diameter of the tray cover openings is smaller than a diameterof a corresponding hole of the tray base.
 4. The food service tray ofclaim 3, the tray cover openings further comprising: a raised annularrim defined around an edge of the tray cover opening.
 5. The foodservice tray of claim 4, wherein the raised annular rim defines a ledgeon a lower surface of the rim that is dimensioned to one or more of awidth or a thickness of a lip surrounding the food serving item.
 6. Thefood service tray of claim 5, further comprising: a slot defined in aperipheral edge of the tray base; and a cover grip tab defined in aperipheral edge of the tray cover, wherein the slot is adapted toreceive a locking tab portion of the cover grip tab to secure the traycover to the tray base.
 7. The food service tray of claim 6, wherein thelip of the food serving item is retained in the hole of the tray base bythe ledge of the tray cover, when the tray cover is secured to the traybase.
 8. The food service tray of claim 2, wherein the food serving itemcomprises a plate.
 9. The food service tray of claim 2, wherein the foodserving item comprises a bowl.
 10. The food service tray of claim 2,wherein the food serving item comprises a cup.
 11. A food service tray,comprising: a tray base having a plurality of spaced apart holes definedin an surface of the tray base; and a tray cover having a plurality ofspaced apart openings defined in a surface of the tray cover anddisposed to correspond with the plurality of spaced apart holes.
 12. Thefood service tray of claim 11, further comprising: a food service item,wherein at least a lower portion of the food service item is receivedwithin one of the plurality of spaced apart holes.
 13. The food servicetray of claim 11, wherein a lip defined around a peripheral edge of thefood service item is supported by an upper surface of the tray base. 14.The food service tray of claim 13, wherein the lip of the food serviceitem is received within a ledge defined in a lower surface of the traycover around a periphery of at least one the plurality of spaced apartopenings.
 15. The food service tray of claim 14, further comprising: aslot defined in a peripheral surface of the tray base; and a locking tabextending from the tray cover, the locking tab adapted to be received inthe slot to secure the tray cover to the tray base.
 16. The food servicetray of claim 12, wherein the food service item is restrained within thetray base by a snap-fit cooperative engagement of the tray cover withthe tray base.